GOP Candidates in 6th Congressional District Clash on Immigration

One candidate calls for closing borders, while the other says immigration agents should prioritize violent criminals

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Two Republican candidates vying for Illinois' 6th Congressional District seat have differing views on immigration. Niki Conforti, an energy consultant, says the U.S. should "pause all immigration" until reforms are enacted, while her rival Skylar Duensing believes immigration agents should focus on capturing violent criminals rather than migrants "who just want to achieve the American dream."

Why it matters

Immigration is a key issue in the race for the 6th Congressional District, which includes parts of Cook and DuPage counties. The candidates' contrasting positions on the topic could sway voters in the Republican primary.

The details

Conforti, who previously ran for the seat in 2022 and 2024, called herself an "America first candidate" and blamed immigrants living in the U.S. illegally for "a lot of the chaos" in the country. She wants to reduce pathways into the U.S. and conduct a "deep dive" into the visa system. Duensing, a college student and conservative activist, accused the Biden administration and "radical left Democrats" of creating an immigration crisis, but believes the process should be simplified and more compassionate, with agents targeting violent criminals rather than using racial profiling.

  • The Illinois primary election is on March 17, 2026, and early voting has already begun.

The players

Niki Conforti

A Republican candidate for Illinois' 6th Congressional District seat who has previously run for the position. She is an energy consultant who calls herself an "America first candidate" and wants to pause all immigration until reforms are enacted.

Skylar Duensing

A Republican candidate for Illinois' 6th Congressional District seat. He is a college student and conservative activist who believes immigration agents should prioritize capturing violent criminals over migrants "who just want to achieve the American dream."

Sean Casten

The incumbent U.S. Representative for Illinois' 6th Congressional District, who is being challenged by a Democrat, Joey Ruzevich, in the primary election.

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What they’re saying

“You need to just pause all immigration and start to evaluate the different pathways in and what's working and what's not working.”

— Niki Conforti, Republican Candidate (Daily Herald)

“Overwhelmingly, the American people know that we need to have strong borders and know that we need to have safe communities.”

— Skylar Duensing, Republican Candidate (Daily Herald)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

The contrasting views on immigration between the two Republican candidates in the 6th Congressional District race highlight the divisive nature of the issue and its potential to sway voters in the primary election.